OH FOR GOODNESS' SAKE! FORREST GUMP IS FICTION!!

It has been 10 years since I ran across America solo in 108 days on the road. My first attempt was in 1986 at the age of 21, but which ended in injury. In 1994, the movie "Forrest Gump" was released and for the past 23 years people have equated running across America with Forrest Gump because the fictional character did it on movie screens worldwide.

When I made my first across-America run attempt in 1986, hardly anyone had ever heard about running across America -- likely because not many people had actually accomplished the endeavor. Of course, the Internet didn't exist then and there were no movies in existence of anyone running across the country. Well, today more and more people are attempting to run across America to be just like Forrest Gump. Here are some fairly recent news headlines:

• Englishman runs across America just like Forrest Gump
• Real-life Forrest Gump finishes run across America
• Inspired by 'Forrest Gump,' man begins charity run across America

For goodness sake... "inspired" by Forrest Gump? If you've never seen the movie, it is one of the most far-fetched cinematic scripts to ever be played on movie screens. Sure, it was the first film to introduce people to the thought of running coast-to-coast across America. However, several people had actually accomplished the task BEFORE the fictitious character of Forrest Gump. In fact, THOSE people are "inspiring" and are the ones that should be learned about by anyone interested in running across the country.

Yes, there are actually people who have accomplished many things you see in movies BEFORE the movies were actually made. Look beyond movies. Look into the history of something that may spark intrigue or inspiration in you. Be a student of the past and don't just try to mimic scenes created by cinematographers. Be innovative, not imitative!

In the movie Forrest Gump, he says, "I ran clear to the ocean. And when I got there, I figured, since I'd gone this far, I might as well turn around, just keep on going. When I got to another ocean, I figured, since I'd gone this far, I might as well just turn back, keep right on going. When I got tired, I slept. When I got hungry, I ate. When I had to go... you know... I went."

Forrest sure makes it sound easy to run solo across America, and all of the coast-to-coast running scenes in that movie make it look like a jog in the park. Well, I guarantee... it's nowhere near as easy as the fictitious character "Forrest" makes it look. Speaking from 3,260 miles of experience between the Oregon coast and the Delaware shore I can tell you... it's actually incredibly demanding physically, mentally and emotionally. Many "Forrest" wannabees have found out the hard way what it's really like to try and cross the country all alone on foot... many pondering that realization as they sit on a bus, train or airplane to head back home with aching feet and legs without having conquered even 5 percent of the country.

Just remember, Forrest Gump is a fictional story and if you truly want to learn about running across the country, do a Google query of those who have actually done it. I believe you'll be genuinely inspired!

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso

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Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek

Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:

• United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
• Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
• Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
• Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
• The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
• Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
• Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
• Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
• Some Cycling Moments From The Past

"Run Forrest Run" -- Words That I've Heard Countless Times!

I first attempted to run across America in 1986. I was injured during the attempt and unable to complete it. In 1994 the movie Forrest Gump was released and showed Forrest running coast-to-coast across America. In 2006 I ran solo across America and had countless people yell these words to me (which are from the movie): "RUN FORREST RUN!" Everyone who yelled those words thought they were quite clever and were likely the first person to yell those words to me. If I had a dollar for every time that someone has yelled "Run Forrest Run" at me over the past decade... well, I'd be as wealthy as Forrest became in the movie.

After I ran across the United States I was contacted by over 100 people within the first year, many of them wanting to know how THEY could run across America. Some had watched the Forrest Gump movie and were inspired... going to the Internet to research runs across America and finding information about me. I've actually had a couple of people write to me and ask if the Forrest Gump movie was based on my life! Some people have a difficult time distinguishing fact from fiction.

For the record, I am not Forrest Gump and the movie was not based on anything about my life. In fact, I attempted to run across America 30 years ago -- 8 years before 'Forrest" ever did on movie screens. So, if you want to encourage me when I take on another mega-mileage ultra running adventure, just yell "RUN PAUL RUN!" I've actually only seen and heard those words used once... on a handwritten sign that was held up by a spectator who yelled "Run Paul Run" to me as I ran through Missoula, Montana during my 3,260-mile coast-to-coast run. It was nice to hear MY name instead of that of the fictional character Forrest.

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso

_______________________________________

Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek

Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:

• United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
• Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
• Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
• Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
• The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
• Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
• Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
• Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
• Some Cycling Moments From The Past

Is Forrest Gump's 19,024-mile Run Possible?

I can't begin to tell you how many people have yelled at me "Run Forrest Run!" as I've run across states and countries!

In 2013, an article was published online which caught my eye -- "Could Forrest Gump have possibly survived his epic run?" Of course, the author is referring to the fictional character that actor Tom Hanks portrayed in the 1994 movie Forrest Gump.

Forrest's epic run was a 19,024-mile run across America that he started in 1979 and repeatedly did for over 3 years. Having run solo across America myself, I find the cross country scenes in the movie enjoyable... although a bit impractical since Forrest runs alone and has no supplies with him. I pushed a stroller containing gear, food and water. However, Forrest manages to get by with just the clothes on his back. If you haven't seen the movie, or need a refresher, watch the short video below:

So, Forrest says that he just felt like running. I can relate with that! However, let's take a look at what the 35-year-old fictional character accomplished in the movie. He says that he ran for 3 years, 2 months, 14 days, 16 hours -- which is 1,169 days. Based on the map and pacing of his first two years worth of crossings that is shown on a television news report in the movie, he would have run 19,024 miles in the 1,169 days he was on the road. Yes... there have actually been people who have plotted his 3+ year route in Google maps to confirm that it was around 19,000 miles! That means that Forrest would have averaged 16 miles per day as he ran back and forth across America for more than 3 years. I averaged 30 miles per day for my coast-to-coast run (108 days). There have been those who have run more daily miles than Forrest did as they've literally run around the world for several years. So, Forrest's run is not impossible, particularly at 16 miles per day.

I believe that given enough time and resources, anyone can go coast to coast across America on foot. Historically, more people have summited Mount Everest than have actually run across the United States. I must say, I do see some similarities between Forrest's run and my own of ten years ago. For instance, he wasn't running to promote any cause, and neither was I. He ran because he just felt like running. I ran to keep a promise. Also, neither Forrest nor I got rich from our runs across America. In fact, he gained more media attention than I did!

There have been people who have set off to run across America in an effort to mimic the fictional character Forrest Gump. Many get out on the highway and realize the enormity of the task and quit. However, some actually finish and embrace their connection to the Forrest Gump character. Although I've had many people call me "Forrest Gump," the fact is that my name is Paul Staso and I ran across America for REAL... with my sole intent being to keep a promise I had made to a group of elementary children. Also, my first attempt to run across America happened 8 years before Forrest ever ran across movie screens. The movie continues to be aired frequently on television and I believe that the phrase "Run Forrest Run!" will never truly fade away.

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso

_______________________________________

Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek

Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:

• United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
• Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
• Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
• Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
• The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
• Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
• Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
• Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
• Some Cycling Moments From The Past